(THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - With Hallyu spreading Korean culture across the world, the popularity of Korean movies, television shows and music has been attracting foreign tourists to the country.
Capitalising on this trend, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday launched plans for this year's Spring Travel Week - 16 days in late April and early May designated to introduce travel destinations and programmes based on locations featured in popular Korean movies and TV shows.
Travel Week, which started in 2014, is a government-led tourism campaign comprising spring and autumn editions. This year's campaign consists of travel programmes in Busan, Daegu and Ulsan, along with Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang provinces and Jeju Island.
The other 10 regional governments in Korea are slated to participate in the Travel Week taking place in autumn.
As part of the campaign, 17 travel spots featured in popular TV shows and films will be highlighted, including Saehan Bookstore in Danyang-gun, North Chungcheong Province, shown in the 2015 movie Inside Men; and the two locations from last year's biggest hit films: Hwaam Temple in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, from Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds, and Cheongso Station of Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, in A Taxi Driver.
Regional travel programmes include a tour around famous filming spots in Busan, Daegu and South Gyeongsang Province.
Happiness Of 10,000 won is a programme that allows participants to visit tourist spots and traditional markets with 10,000 won (S$12.30). Temple stay programmes at 103 temples across the country also cost 10,000 won.
Applications for the programme can be made from 11am on April 18 to 11am on May 12.
Discounts at tourist spots in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are also available, including the amusement parks Everland and Seoulland, the four palaces in Seoul, museums and galleries.
"We do not think it is appropriate for the government to force the private sector to give more vacations. There needs to be a social consensus on the issue," said a Culture Ministry official, commenting on complaints that the ministry's campaign to encourage companies to give extended vacation days to employees is not showing results.
"If more and more companies (give their workers more time off), I think peer pressure would force other companies to follow suit."
For more information on Travel Week, go to travelweek.visitkorea.or.kr.
